Tag Archives: Paul Casey

I caught up with Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee on Saturday morning ahead of the third round of the PGA Championship. We discussed the changes to Quail Hollow, the impact of the weather on the course conditions and what we’ve seen so far from Kevin Kisner, Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, and other notables in the field. Brandel gave his expert analysis on the top contenders and big names and what to watch for this afternoon.

Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck joins Stephanie Wei and Nikki B before the leaders teed off in the third round of the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. Shipnuck offers his witty, perceptive thoughts and his expert insights into what the weekend may hold and what the “very nice chaps” on the leaderboard need to do to come out on top and hoist the trophy on Sunday.

When players arrived at East Lake Golf Club this week for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Ga., they couldn’t help but feel a bit disoriented. (I was certainly confused, initially.) Then, they remembered that tournament officials decided to switch the nines. This year at the FedExCup finale, the field of 30 will tee the hole formerly known as no. 10 and finish on the actual par-5 9th hole.

It’s strange when you first take a walk out there and pass the first hole — but, wait, it is now no. 10 this week — and it definitely does throw you off for a few minutes and then you realize the whole switch with the nines. It doesn’t sound like a big deal and it really isn’t, but it’s still confusing.

Rory McIlroy played nearly flawless golf in blustery conditions on Monday in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, posting a five-under 65, 15-under total. McIlroy trailed 54-hole leader Paul Casey by six shots at the start of the day and ended up winning by two strokes after Casey closed with a three-over 73.

Rory McIlroy entered the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship as the no. 1 seed and the no. 1 player in the world. He solidified both positions by beating his opponent in seven straight matches, including Gary Woodland 4&2 in the finals.

McIlroy also headed into the week with the prospect of sitting ringside at what was being hailed as the fight of the century, the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao showdown, in Las Vegas. He had paid an exorbitant amount of money for his tickets — which he wouldn’t disclose in his pre-tournament press conference — and planned to make the back-and-forth trip regardless of whether he was still in the golf tournament. His position obviously changed on Saturday evening when his match against Paul Casey went into extra holes and McIlroy likely wouldn’t have made it to MGM Grand for the fight in time even if he’d tried.

As you’re well aware from your own money games on the golf course, one of the differences the match play format lends is allowing players to concede putts to their opponents. However, the average hacker is likely much more generous with giving putts than a PGA Tour pro is (at least I am). Sometimes pros make opponents putt out a tap-in just because they feel like it or perhaps to get under their opponents’ skin.

Jason Day has a history of being rather stingy when it comes to conceding putts. He kicked off the day of pre-tournament press conferences at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship with some amusing stories of times that he made his opponents angry at him because he didn’t concede very short putts.

James Hahn’s story is straight out of Hollywood. Just a little less than a decade ago, Hahn was selling shoes at Nordstrom’s. Now, he’s a PGA Tour winner, after beating two stars — or at least two more well-known players — Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey in a playoff on the third extra hole at Riviera.

Hahn remembered a subtlety in the break of a 25-foot putt on the par-3 no. 14 and he drained it for birdie. He shook his fist in the air several times, but Johnson, who had hit it closer, still had yet to give his attempt a go. Hahn couldn’t watch when Johnson stepped up to the putt. However, after Johnson missed, Hahn had snagged his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Northern Trust Open.

With darkness quickly settling in, the vigor had gone straight out of Erik Compton by the time the USGA officials announced the five-for-three (five players–Ryan Blaum, Ken Duke, Compton, Michael Putnam and Cameron Tringale) for three remaining spots) playoff at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in Columbus Monday evening.

“Really?” Compton said as he walked off the putting green at Brookside G&CC. “Right now? It’ll be dark by the time we get to the fairway.”

Oh, it’s that time again, which happens to be one of my favorite days in the golf season — the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, held at Scioto Country Club and Brookside Golf & Country Club, with the latter being the host course this year.

It always falls a week before the championship week beings, which is also the Monday after the Memorial Tournament, so it’s essentially a PGA Tour event, except players are allowed to wear shorts, showing off their *super* sexy white legs, otherwise known as “O.B. stakes” — a la Robert Garrigus in the above picture — and if you don’t have a smart phone, the only leaderboard available is the one written in calligraphy by the scoring area.

Paul Casey fired a back nine 27 at TPC Four Seasons to jump into a tie for second place at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Casey made the turn at one-over, and carded six birdies and an eagle to post a seven-under 63 in the second round.